Festival of Lights & Miracles
Over the years Chanukah has grown into a humungous celebration around the World and the Shapes and size of the Chanukiah vary a lot…… The White House has a Menorah and so do a Zillion other place of interest …In the Beloved Country, there are many communal candles lighting places, and in past years I was lucky to visit the various ones over the years in Slaaaaaaapstad …..This year Chanukah is very early, so we will miss the Cape Town one….. In Joburg, the Lighting of the Effrikka’ s highest Menorah takes place outside Sandton City, and it has drawn big crowds with rides for the Kinderlach, food of course, Doughnuts & Latke’s and a carnival atmosphere….Covid has cut the activity down a bit, and most Shul ones have been cancelled.
One of the best candle lightings was in Bloubergstrand, by the West Coast Chabad, and it was an Ice Menorah ‘Amolikke Yoren’, and the wind was blowing a storm, and they battled to light it…..There have been very similar experiences…. The E-amazing thing about Chanukah is the various spellings you get of Chanukah … According to most sources; the most common spellings are Hanukkah and Chanukah. Such different spellings for the same pronunciation may seem surprising
Hanukkah Chanukah Hanukah Hannukah Chanuka Chanukkah Hanuka
Channukah Chanukka Hannuka Hannukkah Channuka Xanuka Hannukka Channukkah Channukka Chanuqa
Chanukah always brings back fond memories of making Zillions of Latkes at the Communal lighting at Balfour Park and P’nP Norwood….. Made thousands over the years, and it’s quite E-mazing that people seem to love them and the doughnuts over the festival, BUT……daily, they could not be bothered to make them ….I know everyone knows how to make a Latke, BUT…..there are some finer points about making Latkes…..
A Brief description of the Festival of Chanukah from Chabad.org ;
REMEMBERING LIGHT
During the time of the 2nd Temple, the Holy Land was ruled by cruel Greeks. They robbed the Jews of their property, and set up idols in the Beit HaMikdash. No one could stand up against them, till Mattityahu and his sons rose up and drove them from the land. The Chanukah lights remind us of the great miracle that a small band of Jews defeated the mighty Greek armies.
FIGHTING FOR LIGHT
The Greeks were philosophers. They accepted the Torah as a book of wisdom, but not as something holy that connects us to Hashem. In the end, they made Torah learning illegal, and outlawed Mitzvot like Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, Brit Milah, and the holiness of Jewish marriage. The Maccabees risked their lives to keep Torah alive! That’s why they won!
THE MIRACLE OF LIGHT
An even greater miracle than defeating the Greek armies was the miracle of the oil. The Greeks had made all the oil in the Beit HaMikdash impure. Miraculously, the Maccabees found one jar that had been overlooked. But it only had enough oil for one day. So great was their love of G?d, that they lit it anyway! Hashem made another miracle, and the oil burned for eight days! Everyone could see that the Shechinah dwelt with the Jews.
JOYOUS LIGHT!
With tremendous joy, the Jews cleansed the Beit HaMikdash and began to serve Hashem once again! Nowadays, we have to draw on that joy, because the darkness has grown very great! That's why we make Chanukah parties, with dreidels, latkes, and Chanukah gelt. Joy has the power to overcome any negative thing, and break any evil decree!
ADDING LIGHT!
Every day of Chanukah we add another candle till all eight candles of the Menorah are ablaze. By adding a candle every night for 8 days, we charge ourselves up with light, so that we will constantly be adding in Torah and Mitzvot (which are compared to light), throughout all the days of the year to come.
HOLY LIGHT!
The light of the Chanukah candles is holy, like the light of the Menorah in the Beit HaMikdash. We are careful not to use it for any purpose — our Mitzvah is just to look at the candles and listen to the story that they tell.
FILLING THE WORLD WITH LIGHT!
The miracle of Chanukah occurred in a dark time when there were wicked decrees against the Jews. But the Maccabees had courage and never lost hope. Their mesirut nefesh (self-sacrifice) turned the darkness into light! Today too, our mesirut nefesh for Torah and Mitzvot will light up the world and bring Moshiach Now!
During this year’s Chanukah celebrations is the Souff Effrikken Sunshine Golf Tour.. Bigger and better…… some Golf news, which will Light up your Life…..
The Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour today announced changes to the current Summer Swing of co-sanctioned tournaments in South Africa as a result of the country being placed on the travel red list of several countries following concerns around a new COVID-19 variant, and the effect this will have on the participation of professional golfers…..
SA golfers determined in their quest for SA Open glory
SUN CITY, North West – The message from the South African golfers competing in this week’s South African Open Championship at the Gary Player Country Club is a simple one. It’s the South African Open. That’s the focus. Nothing more.
“To win the South African Open is any South African golfer’s dream. But I also believe any international golfer who competes on the Sunshine Tour also wants to win this championship because of its history,” former SA Open champion Hennie Otto said from a hot Sun City on Tuesday.
“A lot of things have changed in terms of this week over the past few days. COVID-19 has made things a bit different. But I can tell you one thing that hasn’t changed – it’s still going to be an incredible honour for the golfer who lifts that trophy on Sunday.”
Dylan Frittelli’s respect for his national Open has only grown since he first teed it up in this championship as a 16-year-old amateur. And his resolve to win it is as strong as ever.
“I’m trying to win the SA Open and that was always, and still is, my major focus coming back to South Africa,” he said.
“I remember qualifying at the age of 16 years old and getting in the field for the SA Open at Humewood. Ernie Els won that week. That was my first taste of SA Open golf. In my opinion, you always come back and you play in your national Open.
“I’ve got to get my name on the SA Open trophy before I stop playing golf. I’m grateful for the tournament going ahead because it could easily just have been washed away in all that’s going on and nobody would’ve said a thing. But I’m really proud of the Sunshine Tour for pushing through and getting it done. And seeing the whole field filled with South Africans is tons of fun, and we all have a lot to play for this week.”
Defending champion Christiaan Bezuidenhout was also very clear in outling his focus for this week.
“It’s great to be back. I have some fond memories here. I’m ready for the week, and ready to take the trophy home again.”
The 111th playing of the national Open has drawn a field that also includes PGA Tour winner Garrick Higgo; former South African Open champions Brandon Stone, Richard Sterne and James Kingston; multiple DP World Tour champions Dean Burmester, George Coetzee and Justin Harding; rising young South African professionals Jovan Rebula and Martin Vorster; and South Africa’s top five amateurs led by number one Christiaan Maas.
A new era for Maccabi Golf:
Just over 2 and a half years ago Maccabi Golf started a rebuild of the organisation. One of the key focuses to changing the sentiment amongst participants and supporters alike lies in creating a more inclusive, friendly and enjoyable golf experience for all. To this end, we have hosted 4 events in a 12 month period excluding 2020 (Covid). These golf days saw participation increase to over 90 participants per event – which was fantastic! Better ball, Alliance, Stableford and Junior events have proved to be very popular.
Our Western Province team has also been hard at work reinvigorating Maccabi Golf Western Province – having hosted multiple events over the past 6 months.
Participation levels are on the rise and we are excited to see new faces and golfers of all ages taking part. Most notably our junior section – seeing in excess of 25 juniors per event.
As an organisation our focus remains on creating fun events where golfers of all ages and skill level can enjoy time on the course with their family and friends.
A big thank you to our team in Gauteng and WP for their enthusiasm and passion in helping drive Maccabi Golf. We are looking for people to join our team – those interested in assisting to help drive our Junior section, as well as other areas please be in touch with us.
We have WhatsApp broadcast lists as well as SMS and email – should you wish you receive updates and communication from us please send your details to golf@maccabi.co.za
Events to look forward to in the coming months:
• Junior 18 Hole and 9 hole days
• Maccabi Betterball
• The Barney Gordon Gauteng champs
We wish everyone a Chag Sameach and healthy and safe period over the coming months. ….. See you on the fairways!
Did you hear about the American tourist and his Chanukah miracle?
He arrived in South Africa with one dollar and it lasted him eight days!
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